RA Deputy FM: Trucks with humanitarian cargo in Kornidzor are clear  evidence of falsity of Azerbaijani allegations about functioning of  Kashatagh corridor

ArmInfo. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan on July 28 in the Syunik region, during a meeting with members of diplomatic corps of Armenia, who arrived  there to get acquainted with the situation around the Kashatagh  (Lachin) corridor, noted that the crisis around Artsakh continues to  worsen.

"Today you had the opportunity to see for yourself the impossibility  of uninterrupted passage of humanitarian cargo through the Kashatagh  corridor. 120,000 residents of Nagorno-Karabakh are factually  besieged for over 220 days beginning 12 December, 2022. This is also  accompanied by serious humanitarian problems.  For several months,  Azerbaijan has been interrupting the supply of electricity and gas to  Nagorno- Karabakh, which has caused serious problems there. In  addition, there has long been a serious shortage of food and medicine  in Artsakh. At present, literally all the rights that people should  have are being violated in Nagorno-Karabakh, from the right to life,  the right to education, medical care to the right to free movement.  It is hard to imagine that something like this could happen in the  21st century. And it is difficult to imagine the international  community not uniting efforts in such conditions to try and resolve  the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh," the  Deputy Foreign Minister said.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that these seven  months showed that Azerbaijan not only ignores the international  community's calls on opening the Lachin Corridor, but is also  displaying explicit disregard for the UN International Court of  Justice 22 February and 6 July rulings, according to which Azerbaijan  must ensure unimpeded passage of persons, vehicles and goods along  the Lachin Corridor in both directions, precisely how it is envisaged  under the 9 November 2020 statement, which is also signed by the  President of Azerbaijan.  According to him, trucks with humanitarian  cargo sent by Armenia, which are now standing in Kornidzor, are clear  evidence of the falsity of Azerbaijani claims about the functioning  of this corridor.

"You have seen and familiarized yourself with the statements made by  the leadership of Azerbaijan in recent days, which can hardly be  considered as constructive ones. In fact, the statements of the  leadership of Azerbaijan and the actions that we see are clearly  aimed at making life in Nagorno-Karabakh incompatible with life for  the people, which in turn will lead to ethnic cleansings.  I think  this cannot be acceptable for a civilized society in the 21st  century. And I hope you will clearly convey to your capitals  everything you saw here today.  And we hope that all capitals will  make relevant statements and actions, which will allow to immediately  unblock free and unimpeded movement along Kashatagh corridor," the RA  Deputy Foreign Minister added.

Later, in a conversation with reporters, Kostanyan also noted that  Yerevan will continue to inform its partners about the situation and  work so that, in the end, Azerbaijan fulfills its obligations at the  international level. "The additional pressure of our international  partners on Azerbaijan is very important.  Statements are not enough,  it is necessary for the international community to act as a united  front and take clear steps that will ensure the uninterrupted passage  of people and goods along the Kashatagh corridor," Kostanyan  concluded.

The diplomatic delegation included ambassadors and diplomatic  representatives of 17 countries. In particular, Serbia, Switzerland,  Ukraine, France, Great Britain, Belarus, Iran, Bulgaria, Russian  Federation, USA, Lithuania, Poland, Iraq, India, Romania, Italy and  Spain.

The US Embassy in Armenia reported that :"Acting DCM John Allelo  joined the diplomatic corps in Syunik and heard from displaced  persons and regional officials about the suffering caused by  continued blockage of the Lachin corridor. We reiterate Secretary  Blinken's call for an immediate reopening of the corridor to  commercial and private traffic," the US Embassy in Armenia stressed.

On July 26, Armenia sent a humanitarian convoy to Nagorno-Karabakh  (361 tons - flour, pasta, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, milk  powder, salt, baby food and medicines on 19 trucks), which since  yesterday in the border zone near Kornidzor waiting for a response  from the Russian peacekeepers. "We've asked the Russian peacekeepers  deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh to accept the cargo and transport it to  Nagorno-Karabakh, which is in a humanitarian crisis due to the  illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor for about 8 months.  Azerbaijan prevents the entry of a humanitarian convoy. This behavior  is incomprehensible and unacceptable," the prime minister said.   "Nevertheless, Yerevan is waiting for a positive reaction from the  RPC and official Baku for the passage of humanitarian cargo to  Nagorno-Karabakh. < Otherwise, this would only confirm the fears  about Baku's genocidal intentions. And  access of the humanitarian  cargo into Nagorno Karabakh would contribute to the peace efforts in  the region and would be a positive step on the path of establishing  an atmosphere of trust," Pashinn said.

Since December 12, 2022, Artsakh is under blockade due to the closure  of the Stepanakert-Goris-Berdzor (Lachin) interstate highway by  Azerbaijan- the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia, as a  result of which the rights of 120 thousand inhabitants of the  country, including 30 thousand children, were violated.  Despite the  fact that on February 22 the International Court of Justice granted  Armenia's demand and ordered Azerbaijan not to impede the free  movement of goods, people and vehicles through the Lachin corridor in  both directions, Baku has not yet complied with this legally binding  decision.Moreower, on April 23, Azerbaijan established a checkpoint  in the Lachin corridor in the zone of responsibility of the Russian  peacekeeping contingent. And after the June 15 incident, the  Azerbaijani side completely blocked the Lachin corridor, as a result  of which even humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is not  delivered to Nagorno-Karabakh.